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A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Yahoo Message Number: 1172
Finally going to actually use the 32SS Greyhawk this weekend. Can't
wait. In the meantime, a couple of questions:

1. Anyone have a good suggestion for a bunk ladder? I really can't
see a good place for one of those with hooks to hold on without
damaging something. At the same time, I don't think I want the kids
using the sofa to hoist themselves up. For now we will use a step
stool, but it is hard to get it close enough to the edge of the bed
without having the bottom of the stool very close to the dropoff from
the coach to the cab.

2. We don't hook up to power often, but will occasionally. The 50amp
cord that came with the Greyhawk weighs a ton and is a real handful to
take out and then coil and return. I am thinking of buying a 30 amp
cord with the Marinco 50amp connector, or of getting an adapter and a
30 amp cord, and leaving that 50 amp fire hose at home. I don't
really know why I need 50 amps with just one air conditioner. For
that matter, I don't know why the RV came with an Onan 5500 instead of
a 4000. Is there some reason I shouldn't do this? Are 50 amp
connectors more common at campgrounds with electricity? Like I said,
we are usually out in the forests somewhere, so I don't have a lot of
experience with full service campgrounds.

Thanks for any help.

Re: A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1173
I was surprised that the 32SS did not come with a ladder for that front bunk. When ours arrived at the dealer we went to have a look at it before they PDI'd it and my son put his foot on the sofa arm and boosted himself up on the bunk - and the arm bent). We (well, DW) got a ladder at Costco that has three steps and it does the job for us (but might not for you if your kids are very young). No question one has to be careful and make sure it is not placed too close to the step-down to the cab.

I found this ladder very helpful when I put in the front slide locks as well. When we are traveling DW puts it on the bed at the back. We have always used slide locks even though one reads so many comments on the forums that they aren't needed. On the way back from Florida in April we saw a MH with the slide out a good 6 inches and it was moving around. So, I was going to forget about the locks, but not now.

All of the parks we have used in the last few years have had 50 AMP power (we do have 2 A/C's). We currently have a concrete pad on our lot and a 50 amp plug in our pool shed for the MH. Thus, I needed an extension to get to the MH as the plug is beyond the reach of the MH's power cord. I eventually bit the bullet and bought a 30 ft 50 AMP extension. Now, that is heavy (22 lbs) and expensive (needed it for our 41 ft Ambassador as our visitors used both heat pumps to keep it cool during the day in 90 degree weather). The 30 amp extentions are pretty cheap in comparison and much lighter (I gave ours to one of my sons when I got the 50 amp). I think a short 50 amp connector with a 30 amp plug on the end would work with the 30 amp extension. We have a 50 amp surge protector which also works with 30 amp juice so we have to work it into the chain as well. We plug the TRC Surge Protector into the power post and have a hasp lock that connects it to the 50 amp power cord from the MH. Since that cord can be disconnected by any passerby (a feature that annoys me) we also run the 50 amp cord under the MH and chain and lock it to the generator frame. That way, if someone wants to steal the Surge Protector and the cord they will have to cut the cable.

My son races at Waterford Hills Mi and his track has 30 amp power and water in the camping area. We use a 30 to 50 adapter when at the track and also connect the Surge Protector.

I just took a look at CW and it appears the one piece unit with 50 amp connector and a 25 ft 30 amp cord and 30 amp plug is probably the cheapest route.

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/RV-Maintenance/RV-Electrical--Solar/Marinco-Park-Power-50Amp-Locking-Adapter-with-25-30Amp-Cord/skunum=15889

The short unit I was thinking about is $70 and when you add the 30 amp extension the cost is more than the one piece unit above.

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/Marinco-Park-Power--50Amp-Adapter-12-Cord/skunum=12854:src=CROS

What is clear is that the 50 amp connector is the major cost. When we had the 50 amp outlet put in our pool shed (it had a 100 amp feed) I asked the electrician about a 50 amp extension. He thought he could put one together. Then, he found out the connectors at both ends were very expensive and it would be more than the CW unit we eventually bought.

Hope you have a good weekend camping.

Don

On 10-Jun-08, at 5:04 PM, JD wrote:

Re: A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1174

I bought a ladder at the local RV dealer, and mounted the retaining clips to the plywood base of the moveable bunk cushion. I did have to screw through the vinyl cover, but it is only an issue if you choose to remove the cove for cleaning. The ladder also had to be cut shorter. I took off one of the rungs by drilling out the rivets, then cut the ladder to size on the miter saw.

Roger

Re: A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1175
, grandriver125@... wrote:
Quote
I found this ladder very helpful when I put in the front slide locks
as well. When we are traveling DW puts it on the bed at the back. We
have always used slide locks even though one reads so many comments on
the forums that they aren't needed. On the way back from Florida in
April we saw a MH with the slide out a good 6 inches and it was moving
around. So, I was going to forget about the locks, but not now.

All of the parks we have used in the last few years have had 50 AMP
power (we do have 2 A/C's). We currently have a concrete pad on our
lot and a 50 amp plug in our pool shed for the MH. Thus, I needed an
extension to get to the MH as the plug is beyond the reach of the MH's
power cord. I eventually bit the bullet and bought a 30 ft 50 AMP
extension. Now, that is heavy (22 lbs) and expensive (needed it for
our 41 ft Ambassador as our visitors used both heat pumps to keep it
cool during the day in 90 degree weather). The 30 amp extentions are
pretty cheap in comparison and much lighter (I gave ours to one of my
sons when I got the 50 amp). I think a short 50 amp connector with a
30 amp plug on the end would work with the 30 amp extension. We have
a 50 amp surge protector which also works with 30 amp juice so we have
to work it into the chain as well. We plug the TRC Surge Protector
into the power post and have a hasp lock that connects it to the 50
amp power cord from the MH. Since that cord can be disconnected by
any passerby (a feature that annoys me) we also run the 50 amp cord
under the MH and chain and lock it to the generator frame. That way,
if someone wants to steal the Surge Protector and the cord they will
have to cut the cable.

My son races at Waterford Hills Mi and his track has 30 amp power and
water in the camping area. We use a 30 to 50 adapter when at the
track and also connect the Surge Protector.

I just took a look at CW and it appears the one piece unit with 50 amp
connector and a 25 ft 30 amp cord and 30 amp plug is probably the
cheapest route.

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/RV-Maintenance/RV-Electrical--Solar/Marinco-Park-Power-50Amp-Locking-Adapter-with-25-30Amp-Cord/skunum=15889
Quote
The short unit I was thinking about is $70 and when you add the 30 amp
extension the cost is more than the one piece unit above.

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/Marinco-Park-Power--50Amp-Adapter-12-Cord/skunum=12854:src=CROS
Quote
What is clear is that the 50 amp connector is the major cost. When we
had the 50 amp outlet put in our pool shed (it had a 100 amp feed) I
asked the electrician about a 50 amp extension. He thought he could
put one together. Then, he found out the connectors at both ends were
very expensive and it would be more than the CW unit we eventually
bought.

Hope you have a good weekend camping.

Don

Thanks for the information. I decided against using the slide locks.
We bought our first Class C used and it didn't have the lock and we
didn't know about it. Never had a problem in the years we drove it.
I asked an RV service guy about it once and he said he thought most
people never used them and he had never seen any damaged due to
non-use, but had done several repairs where someone forgot to take the
lock out and opened the slide. I have a guy who runs a small rv
repair business I have used for years. he said he thought they were
unnecessary.

Hard to tell for sure about whether they are necessary or just
protection form lawsuits. Maybe I should call Mythbusters?

I was thinking of that 30amp cord you linked to. I guess I will need
a 50-30 amp adapter to put on the other end in case I am in place that
only has a 50 amp connection? I assume that way I can connect to a 50
amp or 30 amp pedestal and can't see where I would ever need 50 amps.

My kids are teenage and pre-teen, so I probably don't need a really
tall ladder, but something that isn't going to go crashing to the
floor or cause them to be too "strenuous" in jumping into the bed. My
teenager pretty much follows the philosophy that anything worth owning
is worth destroying through abuse or neglect.

Re: A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1177
You might consider a telescoping swim ladder from West Marine. Not cheap, but they collapse nicely and can be stowed under the bunk mattress when not in use.
Here's the link: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/141560/377%20710/0/swim%20ladder/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=swim%20ladder&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=swim%20ladder&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5&subdeptNum=31&classNum=32
Here's a Roll-up ladder that costs less, but is a less stable solution. http://www.eangler.com/product/337930010.htm?utm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=google

From: KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com [mailto:KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of JD
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 2:05 PM
To: KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KodiakChassisClassC] A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss


Finally going to actually use the 32SS Greyhawk this weekend. Can't
wait. In the meantime, a couple of questions:

1. Anyone have a good suggestion for a bunk ladder? I really can't
see a good place for one of those with hooks to hold on without
damaging something. At the same time, I don't think I want the kids
using the sofa to hoist themselves up. For now we will use a step
stool, but it is hard to get it close enough to the edge of the bed
without having the bottom of the stool very close to the dropoff from
the coach to the cab.

2. We don't hook up to power often, but will occasionally. The 50amp
cord that came with the Greyhawk weighs a ton and is a real handful to
take out and then coil and return. I am thinking of buying a 30 amp
cord with the Marinco 50amp connector, or of getting an adapter and a
30 amp cord, and leaving that 50 amp fire hose at home. I don't
really know why I need 50 amps with just one air conditioner. For
that matter, I don't know why the RV came with an Onan 5500 instead of
a 4000. Is there some reason I shouldn't do this? Are 50 amp
connectors more common at campgrounds with electricity? Like I said,
we are usually out in the forests somewhere, so I don't have a lot of
experience with full service campgrounds.

Thanks for any help.

Re: A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1178
JD you may have a gas / electric hot water heater in your Jayco. Mine seems to take longer to heat up a tank of water on power than it does on propane however power in a campsite costs the same whether you use it or not, so I use it. I have never timed it however, to see which takes longer. You may need the 50 amp to run an air conditioner and the water heater at the same time. Just a thought for what its worth

Re: A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1180
Be careful using a 10 gauge cord (30 amp) the way you intend - A few
of the campgrounds we have used only have 50 amp outlets... using a
30 amp cord on a 50 amp outlet, with a 50 amp breaker, can quickly
lead to melting down the cord.

Not a problem if you are religious about keeping track of your
amperage use... but - one ac 12.6amps for a 13.5k or 16 for a 15k, 3
amps for the frig, 12.5 amps for an elect HW heater, 12.5 amps for
the coffee maker, 8.3 amps if the wife plugs in the blow dryer, 10
amps - or more - for the converter to charge batteries if they are
low..... You get the idea. A 50 amps service actually provides up
to 100 amps - 50 on each leg.

And hope that the cord is not lying on some dry leaves when it does
melt down... oops!

 

Re: A few questions about my Greyhawk 32ss

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1182
JD wrote:

Quote
Finally going to actually use the 32SS Greyhawk this weekend.

Good news, hope you have a good trip.

Quote
1. Anyone have a good suggestion for a bunk ladder?

None here.

Quote
2. We don't hook up to power often, but will occasionally. The 50amp
cord that came with the Greyhawk weighs a ton and is a real handful to
take out and then coil and return.

It's a lot more pliable in the 106 degree temps of Grants, NM ;-) That
cord is a bear for sure and as others have said if you're very careful
you can probably get away with the 30 amp cord. I'm going to do some
research on a more pliable cord, possibly from one of the marine
dealers. My bro-in-law works for power company and said he could
probably get me some wire thru a wholesaler, but it was still expensive
and the connectors on the ends drove it way up. I'll try to find a more
flexible cord already made up or just live with this one. I finally
moved it's storage location to one of the longer basement compartments
so I didn't have to get it so small.

Quote
I decided against using the slide locks.
We bought our first Class C used and it didn't have the lock and we
didn't know about it. Never had a problem in the years we drove it.

To each his own on this one. My Prowler TT's all used travel locks and I
used them. My Jayco TT didn't use locks and I dragged it several
thousand miles without a problem. The book for the Greyhawk says you
must use them and the dealer made a point of showing them to me. There
are stickers over the slides for their placement. Because of this I opt
to use them. I figure whether it's a liability issue or a structural
issue, if they say you must use them, then I must use them. It's five
minutes of my time although they are inconvenient and my wife can't
install them.

Have a great first outing with the new unit.

Take care,
Greg